This coastal escape has been flying under the radarbut not anymore.
Key Takeaways
This friendly town on the Chesapeake Bay feels a bit likeMayberry.
ButCape Charlesis decidedly more cosmopolitan than Andy Griffith’s stomping grounds.
Take in the sunset over Cape Charles Harbor from Shanty seafood restaurant.Credit:Robbie Caponetto
The town is known for its 1828 lighthouse, fishing industry, and fresh seafood.
The town’s public beach is often less crowded during this time as well.
Bakers use local ingredients and traditional methods to make artisan breads and handcrafted pastries.
Order a sandwich on a fresh-baked baguette and head to the beach.
Indulge in a cookie or brownie to finish it off.
The restaurant focuses on local foods and slow, family-style dining.
Mark (left) and Chris Marshall started Cape Charles Brewing Company with their mother, Deborah.
Start with small plates or a charcuterie board, featuring Italian cheeses, vegetables, and cured meats.
Clams, mussels, and lobster rolls will satisfy your seafood craving.
The menu also offers tacos, burgers, and salads.
Drunken Clams, a special menu item at Cape Charles Brewing Company.
While visiting Virginia Beach, she found Cape Charles, a quiet bayside haven.
“That’s the story of so many people who live here,” she says.
“They come, they fall in love with it, and they buy something.”
“To make our coffee ice cream, we source from the local roaster.
All the farmers come and bring me the produce that is freshest to use.
If I find myself needing more peaches, they will let me go pick them.”
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
“People will come and stay for a week.
By the second day, we’ve talked to them and know who they are.
For Chris, the proof that they had done just that was parked right outside.
Shops on Mason Avenue, the main thoroughfare.
“You have this pristine piece of geography here,” says Mark.
Hotel Cape Charles makes sunny days out on the sand a breeze.
Guests at this hotel can help themselves to complimentary bicycles, beach chairs, and towels.
Beth Ann Sabo at Peach Street Books, the coffee shop and bookstore she owns with her sister, Carol.
Vrbo and Airbnb also have plenty of good options for visitors who want a little more space.
The restored 1930s homes once made up the Esso Park Auto Court.
Now a colorfultiny househotel, each one offers the comforts of home to Cape Charles visitors.
Inside, guests will find a queen-size bed, kitchenette, and private bath.
The front porch is the perfect spot to see the sunrise.
Rental company Southeast Expeditions offers stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and guided excursions.
Paddle to a wine tasting on their Chatham Vineyards tour.
Stroll two boardwalks along freshwater wetlands and a rare maritime dune woodland.
The trail ends with views from a bluff overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
The preserve is a habitat for the northeastern beach tiger beetle, a federally threatened species.
They did that with coffee, bagels, and gently used books.
For the sisters, the bookstore is a means of connecting with everyone who meanders to this Eastern Shore.
Cape Charles Beach is situated on the Chesapeake Bay.
It is the only public beach on the Eastern Shore and there are no entrance or parking fees.
The shallow water is calm with no waves and perfect for families with small children.
The 17.6-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connects Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the Eastern Shore.
Two mile-long tunnels break up the bridge sections to allow ships to pass in the bay.
Cape Charles: Virginia’s Cape.Our History.
